Rectal Prolapse

Your rectum is the lower part of your colon, where stool forms. If the rectum drops out of its normal place within the body and pushes out of the anal opening, the condition is called rectal prolapse.

Rectal prolapse is usually caused by a weakening of the muscles that support the rectum. In the early stages, a prolapse may happen only after a bowel movement. The protruding rectum may then slip back through the anal canal on its own. Over time, however, the prolapse may become more severe and could require surgery.